Sardius Simmons, his self-belief strong again, is ready to get to business

Sardius Simmons spent most of camp for his upcoming fight in the United Kingdom preparing Jermaine Franklin Jnr for his own fight with Moses Itauma.

Simmons will return on Tuesday against Jonathan Lee Rice in a six-round heavyweight bout at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Simmons, 5-0 (3 KOs), spent most of December and January overseas helping Franklin, a fellow Michigan native, prepare for the fight of his life. That was until Franklin’s January bout with the unbeaten Itauma was rescheduled for March. Simmons finished out his camp in Michigan as he prepped for Rice.

“I am a southpaw,” Simmons told BoxingScene. “I know how to fight my own fight, and at the end of the day, I believe I am better than Moses. He is a knockout artist, but he hasn’t fought anybody yet.”

Simmons defines his fight against Rice, 5-3 (3 KOs), as “fun.” Rice, a 28-year-old from Cleburne, Texas, enters on a three-fight win streak after losing to prospect Tristan Kalkreuth. Simmons’ experience of preparing Franklin has now trickled into his own fight.

“I am going to put on a good fight, not be boring,” Simmons said. “When I get in the ring, I am home. When you put me in there, there is nothing you can say. I am in there, comfortable and relaxed, and about to have fun.” 

Simmons, a 32-year-old from Flint, Michigan, signed last year with Salita Promotions. Between winning the Golden Gloves in 2016 and again nine years later, in 2025, Simmons fought sporadically. A slew of issues kept him out of action, including injuries and outside-the-ring distractions. 

“I had two rotator cuff surgeries,” Simmons said. “Having an injury can really handicap your mind.” 

Simmons recalls the time between 2016 and 2024, in particular, as being filled with doubt.

“I almost didn’t believe in myself,” Simmons said. “2024 woke me up again.” 

Simmons says he trained for two weeks for one Golden Gloves competition, losing in the finals to Gilbert Kabamba. A year later, he trained harder and defeated Kamamba in the finals. The win helped launch Simmons into a position to land a promoter and climb onto the stages he is fighting on now.

“I got my life outside of the ring together,” Simmons said. “Look at me now. It is time to get to business.” 

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.